WA is a stressful place to work, but ranks high in economic environment: report
Some of the top companies to work for in the U.S. call Washington home. So where does the state land in a ranking of the best and worst states for jobs?
Overall, Washington scored No. 16 on the list of the best states to find a job, according to a report published last week by personal finance company WalletHub. Massachusetts ranked first and West Virginia came up last.
But drilling down into the metrics provides a sort of split-screen effect in terms of Washington’s economic environment and job-market rankings.
For instance, Washington was No. 1 on WalletHub’s economic-environment ranking, which considered factors including median annual income, share of workers living in poverty and commuter-friendly jobs. Yet it took 43rd place in the report’s job-market ranking.
The state lagged in certain specific areas.
Washington earned No. 47 when it comes to job opportunities. It also ranked No. 47 in Wallethub’s unemployment-rate category.
The U.S. unemployment rate stayed steady between 4% and 4.3% over the past year. Meanwhile, that rate in Washington has remained at about 4.5% this year.
And when considering stress load, Washington apparently has work to do: The state counts some of the highest work-related stress, coming in at No. 46 on WalletHub’s report.
Employees who call higher-ranked states home often benefit from stable conditions in the long term, noted WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. They’re also positioned to withstand economic fluctuations.
“The best states for jobs make it easier for residents to find and retain jobs, and employers in these states also offer very competitive compensation and benefits,” Lupo said in a statement. “In addition, the top states are great places for people looking to raise a family, ranking among the best states for working parents.”
Another WalletHub report from January showed where some Washington cities scored in a ranking of the best places to find jobs. Seattle landed at No. 30 while Spokane came in at No. 88, Tacoma at No. 129 and Vancouver at No. 162.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 12:40 PM.
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